Effect in mice of injection of viable Candida albicans and a cell-free sonic extract on circulating platelets.

The ability of intravenously injected Candida albicans to cause thrombocytopenia and clotting disorders was tested. Mice injected in this manner showed a decrease in circulating platelets and a shortening of clotting time within hours after challenge. Treatment with heparin changed the death distribution pattern, but did not increase overall long-term survival. A cell-free sonic extract prepared from viable C. albicans cells was shown to cause aggregation of platelets in vitro, and injection of the cell-free extract into mice caused a decrease in circulating platelets similar to that observed when viable organisms were injected.